Julie Doiron wrote all the songs from her new album I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day when she was still dizzy with new love.

Before meeting Mr. Right in 2007, the 37-year-old singer-songwriter from Moncton, N.B., had been languishing in a painful two-year songwriting sabbatical following the break-up of her marriage to husband, artist Jon Claytor (who does most of the cover art for Doiron's records, including this) in 2005.

The moment she felt Cupid's arrow in those heady, romantic days in 2007, Doiron started writing songs again, some of them the best, and most revealing songs she's ever written, radiating love in all its splendour, from wanting to snuggle in bed to a mother's love for her children. Doiron's vibe is loving and open armed.

"My songwriting is rooted in what's happening around me," Doiron says while stuck at PET airport in Montreal after a redeye flight from Frankfurt.

"I didn't think it was appropriate to write songs about my crumbling marriage, so I made a conscious decision to stop writing songs and do other things. When I fell in love again a couple years later, the songs just poured out of me.

"It's my happy-to-be-alive album," she adds, with a little coaxing.

No kidding. Not since Joni Mitchell's Blue came out in 1969 has there been a record that documented the joys and sorrows of love with such imagination and authenticity.

Just try listening to these entirely unpretentious love songs Tailor, Lovers of the World, Nice To Come Home To, Borrowed Minivans or Glad To Be Alive without turning into a drooling, love-struck idiot and you're a better man than me.

Alas, Doiron's new relationship fizzled out after a year. However, her songs retain their emotional potency.

"A lot of my songs, especially the sad songs, are hard to perform because they're so personal. Sometimes when I'm not in the best mood, I have to remind myself that I'm a professional and get on with it."

Doiron began her music career with Maritime rock band Eric's Trip before teaming with Ottawa's Wooden Stars, winning a Juno Award for her album Julie Doiron and the Wooden Stars in 2000.

Meanwhile, she and guitarist Fred Squire will continue touring the new album until spring, when they join Attack in Black's Dan Romano for a quick tour of their delightful folk album Daniel, Fred & Julie. Doiron will then back The Tragically Hip's Gord Downie on his new solo tour next summer.